Chapter 16: Second Level
When Nith’s island settled at the bottom of the abyss, the ceiling above them closed up. Darkness, however, had no place on the second floor, as the foliage that glowed within the swamp waters above also covered the underground world—on a much larger scale.
Nith could find shelter under a single mushroom here. In fact, it was so bright he’d rather carve a house within one, but he didn’t come here to put down roots.
Like the others, Nith scanned his eyes across the second level. He noticed crevices from which green, dense water spilled out. Countless monsters littered the cavernous space around them, some of which were dead, while others struggled for their lives.
These currently weren’t of much concern to the team. That being said, the damp air made it difficult to breathe, and the coldness permeating the cave had already started gnawing at their skin.
Nith glanced at his minimap and noticed that the team’s archers had spotted a few paths, each sloping down. As he focused on one of them, he saw water flowing downwards. It was their first clue in this place. After making brief eye contact with Kyouka, he confirmed that she noticed it too.
Both waited for the archers to share this information. To their surprise, Norman spoke up first.
“Someone is coming!” he shouted as he unsheathed his sword, pointing its edge at one of the hidden paths concealed by moss and vines, from which a creature started crawling out.
Its claws, covered in dark green scales, pushed against the water’s current, gripping the ground. Moments later, a lizard’s snout peeked out from the current before it completely emerged from the curved path.
It didn’t stay on all fours but stood on two legs. Its size was at least twice that of Nith, and the water level reached slightly above its calves.
Glaring at Nith’s team, the monster glanced at the corpses and others fighting to survive, studying its surroundings and revealing its intelligence.
Norman seemed to know more. He shouted, “Aim for the spot between its chest and throat! That’s its weak point! If it comes to our island, Ramon will hold it off, and Netta and I will join the fray!”
Following his command, the archers nocked their arrows and pulled back their bowstrings. Meanwhile, the team’s only mage channeled his mana into a short, wooden staff, its tip glowing silver.
When the archers pulled back with enough strength, and the mage completed his chant, all three simultaneously released their attacks. The arrows sliced through the air but slightly veered off course, hitting the monster’s shoulders.
The arrows bounced off the scales. Nonetheless, the mage’s Wind Cutter accurately met the target and tore through the weak point Norman had instructed them to aim for, peeling off the scales and digging into the flesh.
Blood sprayed in a torrent.
Meanwhile, Nith passed Kyouka a vial of purple poison. She threw it, following up by tossing her own reversed potion, which infiltrated the monster’s wound.
It had been charging toward them over the corpses, but the mage’s attack, along with the peculiar duo’s liquids, significantly hindered its approach. A few seconds later, the monster dropped to its knees, its claws reaching toward the wound as if trying to patch it up.
To the team’s surprise once again, Norman leaped off the island and dashed toward the humanoid lizard. His blade slashed across its neck, beheading it in a clean cut.
The monster then vanished into particles, leaving behind a jagged item.
“Haha! I didn’t even have to break a sweat!” Roman laughed.
Other teammates helped Norman return to the island, hauling him back. One of them was Netta, who laughed along with Roman.
Once Norman set foot on the island’s ground, she asked the question that had been bothering Nith.
“How did you know about its weak point?”
“I heard about humanoid lizards back at the tavern. Never expected to meet one myself, though,” Norman replied, smiling at his team.
“I see, that’s good! It seemed strong enough to trouble Second Grade Adventurers,” Netta nodded, sharing her thoughts.
The archers vehemently agreed with her. “Our arrows didn’t even dent its scales. If it weren’t for that weak point, we would’ve been broken trying to take down that lizard!”
“Good to have you, Norman!”
“Yeah, your slash perfectly leveraged that wound, chopping off the head clean and easy! Haha!”
While the swordsman basked in everyone’s praise, Nith silently stared at him, swallowing his suspicions. It would be rude to be a party pooper and question the allied team’s leader.
However, Nith’s wariness resurfaced less than three minutes later.
Norman presented to everyone a jagged item, which appeared to be a broken emblem. Its status was also broken, revealing nothing except that it was a part of something.
An archer raised his hand. “It’s a rune.”
Kyouka mused aloud, “If it’s a rune, then there’s a hidden door somewhere. Runes serve as keys and chambers. A part of the rune means that this is related to a door system.”
The archer’s face twisted for a second before he forced a smile. “That’s true! You’re smart, Ms. Kyouka!”
Silently listening and observing the conversation, Nith thought, ‘Kyouka’s upbringing justifies her knowledge about runes. But a man who’s been First Grade his entire life?’
Not wanting to sour the mood, Nith waited for an opportunity where he could share his concerns with Kyouka, away from others’ earshot.
